No Easy Task

05 April 2013 09:27

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After topping the SPL earlier in the season, Hibs are making it hard for themselves to reach the top six

Hibs are still hoping to make the top six before the SPL splits for the last five games. Unfortunately for them, they need to beat Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow and hope that other results go their way to realise that hope. Manager Pat Fenlon has called for his players to "stand up and be counted" on Saturday. Celtic will be in no mood to just make up the numbers as they can win the title if they pick up three points, a scenario which promises to produce a fiery atmosphere in the east end of Glasgow.

Hibs manager Pat Fenlon (c) Ger Harley | SportPix.org.uk

Fenlon said: "It's going to take a win to get us into the top six and it is always difficult at Celtic Park. We have to make sure we approach it in the right manner because Celtic have a lot to play for as well. With them having the opportunity to win the league, you would imagine their crowd and players will be up for it so we have to make sure we start positively and sprightly. We have to make sure we stand up and be counted early in the game, that is really important. We need to try to take the game to Celtic at times and be solid at other times. We have to make sure we stay in the game for a long period and then obviously there maybe comes a time when we have to throw the kitchen sink at them. We have played Celtic twice and drawn and beaten them but we are going to have to play really well, we are not fooling ourselves, they are a top team. But in football things can happen and we have to make sure that if things go for us elsewhere, that we do our own business right."Fenlon has more options for team selection now that defender Paul Hanlon has recovered from from a hip injury and full-back Alan Maybury is back from suspension. The Irishman said: "Paul Hanlon is back training for the last couple of weeks so he has a chance of coming back into the team. Alan Maybury is back from suspension so we are okay with numbers."Fenlon confirmed that Eoin Doyle still has a big part to play in the run-in despite agreeing a deal to move to Chesterfield at the end of the season. The striker was Fenlon's first signing in December 2011, but the Irishman has rejected the offer of a contract extension and will move to the npower League Two side. Fenlon said: "He has a agreed a contract (with Chesterfield). We offered Eoin a contract five or six weeks ago and he turned it down. That's the decision he has made and we just have to get on with it. But he's a very honest, when he gets on the pitch he works very hard for the team so I don't expect anything different from him."